Neville Goddard on 1 Samuel 3:3-5 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read 1 Samuel 3 in context

Scripture Focus

3And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

4That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

5And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.

1 Samuel 3:3-5

Biblical Context

Samuel sleeps in the temple as the lamp of God seems to go out; God calls him, Samuel answers, and then runs to Eli, who says he did not call. Samuel returns to sleep, awaiting further guidance.

Neville's Inner Vision

In Neville Goddard’s framework, the lamp going out signals a shift of consciousness: outer sight dims and the I AM within begins to speak. Samuel embodies the awakened state on the threshold of a new vocation, with God's presence seated in the inner temple. The voice Samuel hears is not an external message but a movement of imagination within consciousness. When he answers, 'Here am I,' he demonstrates readiness and a concrete assumption that the call is real and personal. Running to Eli represents seeking guidance from external authorities rather than listening to the inner cue; Eli’s correction invites Samuel to return inward and listen again. Persisting in this inner listening, the call gradually reveals a genuine vocation—an activity that arises from the deepest sense of being, not from mere habit. The lamp need not extinguish; it can stay bright by the steady practice of assuming the I AM is always present, guiding you, and honoring the inner voice speaking within your own temple.

Practice This Now

Imaginative act: In quiet, declare, 'I am the call and I am called now,' feel the lamp of awareness brighten, and stay with that feeling as you proceed to the next action in your day as if guided.